AIBU to want to track my children?

[PocketFluff]

I've just read about the Tile tracker on another thread on here. What a great idea! I'm getting some for wallet and keys etc. This made me think about tracking the most important things to me: my children.

Does anyone know if you can get or make (with eg a Tile) a bracelet or something similar for them? I can't find anything on Google, just watches for older children that can be tracked.

Knowing I could track them on my phone should they ever get lost at the beach, days out etc would be amazing! No substitution for keeping a close eye on them, which I do, but a good back up. It would also ease anxiety after watching the Madeline documentary. Really shouldn't have watched that. And yes, I know that it is very rare.

I'm happy to be tracked when I'm out running on my own through my phone, I see it as a really good safety feature. They're little so no invasions of privacy or anything. Has anyone found something like this??

I tend to think of you feel the need to track them they are rather too young to be out alone tbh

Hm.
In certain situations only, where you fear getting seperated, and only for a young child, up to about 5 I’d say. Otherwise- I don’t know it just seems too much.

The other thing to be really aware of is not to rely on it and let your guard down in other ways. It could make you complacent. Tiles could easily get lost or taken off. Imagine if you didn’t bother to check up on your child in the garden through the window because you could see they were safely in the shed, when actually... shudder.

Jeez no. I hate the idea.

They are never on their own, even in the house! I mean situations when you are out for the day, somewhere new or with lots of exciting things going on. I've never lost them but I know lots of people whose children have got lost, we hear about lost children on the beach a lot. When I was little I remember getting lost, albeit only for a short time.

this is a path a whole world of issues...
other posters also have valid points.
It’s a terrible idea

But they're not foolproof.

Bracelets fall off, the battery could go flat, they could be removed or lost or broken.

It wouldn't achieve anything because you'd be tracking the bracelet, not your child.

They are never on their own, even in the house!

Ok this is a bit extreme.

They are never on their own in the house because they don't want to be. Since their father died they both want to stay close to me. This comes in waves and can be tricky sometimes but completely understandable.

Well that's a bit of a drip feed and goes some way to explain why you might be feeling anxious about losing them when out. It is a bit OTT though.

I'm sorry

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arkangel_(Black_Mirror)

Black Mirror episode.

What about a moochie watch, doubles as a phone?

Tbh there's a few out there you can use to track kids. Just read the reviews first.

YABU.

I can see it might be useful with very small children in busy public places but any older it is a massive invasion of privacy. I also wonder how accurate they would be in a small area like a beach or fairground since I'm sure they give a general area only.

I despair at families who have trackers on phones where they can all track each other.

When it comes to older kids they need some freedom, including the freedom to disobey their parents and rebel a bit.

I track my two children’s phones (10 and 12). I have a lot of anxiety around keeping them safe. It’s something I have to work hard at. I’ve forgiven myself tracking their phones because I’m only human and I’m trying my best. Tbh most of my friends are doing the same but I do get the odd few who completely disagree but that’s ok, I’m not worried about how they feel on this subject anyway tbh ☺️.

It’s so handy! My son was on a school trip the other day and I could tell by the app that there was no way they were getting back when scheduled.

So sorry to hear about your husband 💐

YANBU - I'm with you OP, I often think this myself but always get told I'm being OTT which perhaps I am! I'd be all for having the same for myself too, I'd want someone to be able to find me in an emergency situation! I accept that older children should have the right to make the choice themselves.

A lot of people microchip pets for identity purposes (I'm not saying that's what should happen with people and I know there's a whole new set of moral issues when it comes to people and privacy) but God forbid the worst happened and for whatever reason I was separated from my children, surely something that could help find them would be better than nothing.

Depends on the age. I don't much like the idea of people tracking each other and just wonder what's next? Microchipping?

I don't think it's a terrible idea at all. If you google gps trackers for kids, there are tons of products out there specifically for that purpose.

A lot of people microchip pets for identity purposes

It is the law that dogs must be microchipped..

I suppose it’s not a ridiculous idea if you’re somewhere crowded and have a young child who has a tendency to give you the slip, though I’d question the sense of actually going somewhere crowded with a child prone to doing this.

Older children? Nah, they’d bin it, or at least leave it somewhere they’ve told you they’re going while they do something completely different.

I think it's a brilliant idea! Why wouldn't you do this? It's not like young DC have secret lives they need to hide from their parents, and if, God forbid, they should get lost or worse you could track them immediately. I genuinely don't see a downside here? am I missing something?

Obviously it doesn't make up for proper supervision, but I bet most posters can remember getting lost as a child in a crowd or in a supermarket. It happens.

how old are the dc op ?

If you do it, get a bunch of them and fit them under the insole of their shoes. Don't ever put it in a jacket, everyone loses them and then you lose tracking capability.

There IS no substitute for parenting, or for trust !

I'm sorry, and it's not what you want to hear, but it's totally insane to 'track' your children, where would it end ?
Would you still be covertly tracking them at university ? or on a night out ? ( have seen plenty on mumsnet about people tracking partners etc)

There is no end to the cycle once it starts. Comments such as ' I'm only doing it to keep you safe' or ' I need to know where you are so I won't worry' are the excuses trotted out by the people who either don't know how to, or are too lazy to teach their children the skills they need to be able to protect themselves from predators or danger of any kind.

A perfect example is a mum I know, who tracks her DC's phone and drives round to where DC is, to check he's safe down at the riverside park, and yet hasn't got the time or energy to teach DC to swim !!!! Also hasn't taught him any strategies about how to get away from strangers or what to do if an older kid tells him to do something dangerous etc

Be a responsible parent and TEACH LIFE SKILLS to your children instead of tracking them with technology !

If you don't, you'll never be able to stop the 'tracking' cos, as a parent, you NEVER stop worrying, but you DO have to learn how to trust your children and trust that you have taught them about safety/ risks/ what to do in an emergency etc cos unfortunately all you parents will not actually live forever and be able to protect your DC from every danger forever, but you CAN teach THEM how to protect themselves !

Also, how can your children ever feel confident in their own abilities or to be independent and negotiate life's dangers themselves if you insist they need your intervention to keep them safe ? You should be empowering your children, not keeping them from being self reliant.

It is not your child's problem if you can't relax unless you know exactly where they are, each moment of the day, IT'S YOURS ! Our children should not need to comply with your wish to track them simply to ease YOUR mind. As a parent, you HAVE to learn to let go, a little bit at a time as your child',s abilities and confidence grows.
It's not easy to let go, but it IS essential, unless you want to see your son and daughters in law on mumsnet complaining about their overbearing and controlling mother in law !

Your choice.........

@spam390

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slippery_slope

Oh wow..... not too judgemental and not too many assumptions there 😂

Woah there! I never said anything about tracking them all the time, more as a useful tool if they got lost. They're only 3 and 6 so I know where they are all the time anyway!

As for life skills, my eldest knows loads. We go to lots of places so we've talked a lot and gone through lots of different scenarios, even down to what to do if they accidently got into a lift without me.

I can see it might be useful with very small children in busy public places but any older it is a massive invasion of privacy

It's not. As their mother, it is absolutely my right to know where they are.

I despair at families who have trackers on phones where they can all track each other

Really? Wanting to know that my 11 year old has arrived at school makes you despair?